New Britain Common Council Public Hearing on Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget, Capital Improvement, and Revenue Plans - April 28, 2026

The New Britain Common Council held a public hearing on April 28, 2026, at 6:38 PM to receive public comment on the proposed general fund budget, special revenue funds, enterprise funds, and capital improvement appropriations for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2026. The hearing featured over 50 speakers, including students, parents, educators, administrators, school nurses, union representatives, and community members, who overwhelmingly urged the council to increase funding for the consolidated school district of New Britain and to avoid cuts to staff, programs, and services. The council president noted that the mayor and state legislative delegation were at the state capitol working on a plan to close a funding gap. No votes were taken; the hearing concluded at 9:55 PM. The council will deliberate the budget on May 5, 6, and 7, 2026, with May 7 reserved for the Board of Education.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Students (multiple): Expressed deep concern over proposed budget cuts, stating that reductions would eliminate teachers, after-school programs (sports, band, choir, Ed Rising), and support staff. They emphasized that these programs are essential for their development, mental health, and sense of belonging.
• Eric Downer (Business Agent, Teamsters Local 671): Representing 300 school bus drivers at First Student, he argued that cutting school transportation and other services directly harms working families and students, noting that drivers are the first and last faces students see.
• Anita Fazio (Principal, Gaffney Elementary School): Stated that the district is at a breaking point, having lost seven teachers at Gaffney. She asked for the status quo funding, not extras, and said the current path is unsustainable.
• Dovon Hendrix (6th grade math teacher, Pulaski Middle School): Highlighted the importance of representation and the impact of programs like the Teacher Residency Program. He noted that budget cuts disproportionately affect students of color and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
• Gina Eller (Director of Adult Education, New Britain): Reported that adult education served nearly 500 students this past year, with 21% of New Britain adults (approx. 7,464) lacking a high school diploma. She noted the adult education budget has been flat-funded for 13 years and state funding was capped at nearly 14%.
• Elizabeth Dietz (District Nursing Supervisor): Stated that the proposed cuts would eliminate two district nursing positions, which she called essential. She reported that to date, with 34 days left in the school year, the nursing team has seen 113,485 visits, administered 22,900 medications, and serves 350 students with life-threatening allergies and over 600 students with autism.
• Jennifer Gibb (School Nurse): Described caring for students with multiple disabilities, noting that nurses are the bridge between medical and school settings, and that having a nurse is a necessity, not a luxury.
• Jennifer Moran (School Nurse, Roosevelt Campus): Reported that she manages 674 students, including 101 with asthma, 52 with severe food allergies, and 13 with seizure disorders. She has seen 2,600 students and charted 9,333 medical tasks this year. She warned that cutting nurses creates a liability and could lead to costly lawsuits.
• Christina West Krupa (Special Education Teacher): Argued that IEPs and 504 plans are federally mandated, and underfunding leads to costly outplacements and legal disputes. She emphasized the moral responsibility to provide adequate support.
• Wendy Clark (Parent and Resident): Called for the full Board of Education funding request, noting that for decades education has been underfunded, and the district struggles with basic needs like toilet paper or copy paper.
• Aaron Morabito (CT State Community College): Cited data from the Learning Policy Institute showing that decreases in educational funding lead to lower test scores and college enrollment, while increases shrink the achievement gap.
• Alicia Strong (Teacher and New Britain Graduate): Urged the council to use city reserves (noting $23-26 million) and to move money from other departments to education, asking for at least an additional $1 million.
• Desiree Costa (Resident): Requested a measured one-time use of $3-5 million from reserves as a bridge to prevent immediate harm, and urged a comprehensive review of city spending. She noted that the mayor's proposed budget includes increases in the mayor's office and other executive areas.
• Victor Schobert (Library Advocate): Supported a 13% increase for the New Britain Public Library, noting that the current proposed 3% increase would lead to cuts. He reported that visitor count is up 29%, electronic materials use up 74%, and program attendance up 57% over the past two years. Library staff are among the lowest paid in the region.
• Francesca Davila (Family School Liaison): Stated that eliminating her position would harm vulnerable students, especially those experiencing homelessness or chronic absenteeism. She also serves as a translator for Spanish-speaking families.
• Leah Zaila (Student, NBHS): Shared her personal story of how a family school liaison helped her overcome anxiety and depression, and that cutting such positions would devastate students' mental health support.
• Sal Escobales (Former teacher, board member, and current admin): Emphasized that family school liaisons and bilingual teaching assistants are essential for equity and access. He warned that political disagreements and fragmentation harm students.
• Lisa Grega (Athletic Director): Reported that the proposed $200,000 reduction to athletics would eliminate middle school sports entirely and cut $100,000 from high school. This year, 688 high school athletes and 925 middle school registrations are participating, representing a significant increase.
• Michelle Stewart Coves (Former Board of Ed member): Opposed cuts, noting that 49 teachers on the layoff list include the only African American teacher at Gaffney and that cutting music sends a negative message.
• Patricia Olivier (Community Member, Manos Unidas): Spoke in Spanish, emphasizing the need for investment in education, especially for special needs students, and asked for support for the library and youth programs.
• Brian Chong (Teamsters Local 671): Cited the example of Meriden, CT, where pressure from parents and unions led to funding restoration and school saving. He urged the council to demand state delegation deliver on education funding.
• Tim Mayo (Family School Liaison): Argued that the district has 30% chronic absenteeism, and eliminating family school liaisons would be a disservice to 30% of students.
• Jasper Kulinski (Student Educator, CCSU): Listed specific personnel reductions possible under the proposed budget, including two school nurses, 13 elementary classroom teachers, 10 instructional coaches, eight STEAM teachers, one principal, and others. He noted that to meet the state median funding per student, New Britain would need an additional $56.4 million.
• Taylor Warinski (Teacher, Pulaski Middle School): Argued that the budget deficit is artificial, citing that corporate profits have increased 611% since 2000, and that Cigna alone reported $6 billion in profits in 2025, which could cover the deficit 317 times over.

Discussion Items

• Council Responses: Several council members, including Alderwoman Maldonado, Alderwoman Scott, Alderwoman DeLunia, Alderwoman Barboza, Alderman McNamara, Alderman Centeno, and President Santiago, expressed gratitude for the testimony and committed to working on the budget. They noted that the council does not vote on the budget until the end of June, and that the process is ongoing. Alderman Simpson stated he is committed to finding at least a level budget for education and fully funding the library. Alderman McNamara clarified that the council has approximately $2.5 million to find, and that the education gap is $18.9 million out of a $270-280 million budget.

Key Outcomes

• No Votes Taken: The hearing was for public input only; no resolutions were voted on.
• Next Steps: The council will hold budget discussions on May 5, 6, and 7, 2026, with May 7 reserved for the Board of Education. The final budget approval is expected by the end of June. The council president noted that the mayor and state delegation are working on a plan to close the funding gap, and he expressed confidence that all parties will come together to give schools a fair shake.